The head of the state Department of Revenue was ousted December 29, the apparent victim of taking a legal position on a new tax contrary to that of Gov. Doug Ducey, his boss.

The state Department of Revenue wants a judge to quash efforts by business interests and some Republican legislators to keep a new tax to fund education from taking effect.

A group that spent $260,000 attacking a 2014 foe of Doug Ducey in his first gubernatorial race is trying again to escape paying a fine for violating state campaign finance laws.